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Prior to 1995, all area codes in North America (USA, Canada, etc.) had the first digit 2 through 9, the middle digit 0 or 1, and the last digit 0 through 9, but the second and third digits could not be 00 or 11. That made a total of 8x2x9 = 144 possible geographic area codes.

The 8 N00 codes were reserved for non-geographic special purposes (800 toll-free, 900 premium numbers, 700 special per-carrier numbers, and 500 personal numbers). The 8 N11 codes were reserved to prevent confusion with the special codes like 911 emergency.

Beginning in 1995, the middle digit could be any number from 0 through 8, but area codes with 9 as the middle digit are still reserved for future expansion. There are now 648 possible geographic area codes, give or take a few special cases.

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All area codes in North America (USA, Canada, etc.) begin with the digits 2 through 9.

Before 1995, all area codes had either 0 or 1 as the middle digit. In addition, the combinations 00 and 11 were not allowed for the last two digits, except for the special codes 700, 800, and 900.

Thus, for N = 2 through 9, possible area codes were N01, N02, N03, N04, N05, N06, N07, N08, N09, N10, N12, N13, N14, N15, N16, N17, N18 and N19, which is 8x18=144 possible geographic codes, plus the 8 possible N00 special codes.

As of 2012, the United States alone has about 300 area codes, not including Canada or the various Caribbean and nearby islands that also have North American area codes.

Current area codes still must begin with 2 through 9, and the middle digit can be any digit except 9. However, codes with the second and third digits the same are reserved for non-geographic special purposes such as 800/888/877/866/855 toll-free and 500/533/544/566 personal numbers.

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Q: How many area codes were possible before 1995?
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Related questions

How were telephone areas defined before area codes?

Before area codes, telephone areas in North America were defined by reference to the nearest large city.


What is the area code for the prefix 242?

The whole point of area codes is that the same prefix can exist in many different area codes, so there is no possible way to answer your question.


How many phone numbers are possible in a city with two area codes?

In the North American system with 3-digit area codes and 7-digit local numbers, there are slightly less than 8 million possible telephone numbers per area code, so with two area codes you have more than 15 million possible numbers. However, only a fraction of those numbers will be in use at any given time.


How many three-digit area codes are possible if the first digit cannot be a 0?

There are 900 possible three-digit numbers not beginning with 0. (Note, however, that this question does not accurately describe the restrictions on numbers that can be used as area codes.)


How many possible area codes can you get without using 0 as the first number?

It depends on how many digits in an area code. North America (USA, Canada, etc.) uses a uniform system of 3-digit area codes, but many other countries do not. Assuming a 3-digit area code and no other restrictions other than "first digit not zero," that leaves 900 possible area codes.


When did the prefix 01 telephone numbers start?

In 1995, all UK geographical area codes were converted to begin with 01.


What place in England has the telephone area code 0483?

There have been no area codes in England, or the rest of the United Kingdom, that begin with '04' since the year 2000. If the number you have dates from before the major national renumbering in year 1995, it would be the code for Guildford. That code has since changed to 01483.


How do I use a map to find area codes?

If you look at maps, you will not find area codes. Area codes can be found on area code locator websites. Another place to find area codes is in the telephone directory.


When did the 815 area code come into existence?

January 7, 1984 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_818


How many countries have an area code of 809?

North American area code +1 809 is the Dominican Republic. Although calls to area code 809 are dialed as 1-809-number from the rest of North America (USA, Canada, and some Caribbean/nearby islands), international call charges will apply. Area codes +1 829 and +1 849 also serve the Dominican Republic. For a list of all North American area codes outside the US and Canada, see the related link.


How many area codes can you make without 0 and 1 in the first digit and the second has to be 0 and 1?

With the restrictions specified in your question, there are 8 x 2 x 10 = 160 possible area codes. However, those restrictions do not match the restrictions on actual area codes in North America (USA, Canada, etc.). North American area codes have the first digit not 0 or 1, the second digit not 9, and the third digit not the same as the second digit (such codes are reserved for special purposes like toll-free), leaving 8 x 9 x 9 = 648 possible area codes.


What is a general purpose area code?

In North America, general purpose area codes are area codes that are available for assignment as geographic area codes; in other words, all unassigned area codes that are not reserved for other purposes. Area codes ending in '11' are unusable due to conflict with N11 short codes such as 911 and 711. Area codes with the second and third digit the same are reserved as "easily remembered" codes such as 800/888/877/866/855/844 toll-free and 900 premium numbers. Area codes with '9' as the middle digit are reserved for future expansion. Most other unassigned area codes in the range 200 to 999 are general purpose area codes.